In this World Fantasy Award-winning novel of magic and kungfu, four siblings battle rival clans for honor and power in an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.
*Named one of TIME's Top 100 Fantasy Book Of All Time
* World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, winner
* Aurora Award for Best Novel, winner
* Nebula Award for Best Novel, nominee
* Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, finalist
Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for -- and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.
Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon's bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.
When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone -- even foreigners -- wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones -- and of Kekon itself.
Praise for Jade City:
"An epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you'll forget you're reading a book." --Ken Liu, Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author
"A beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!" --Ann Leckie, Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author
"An instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats." --NPR
The Green Bone Saga
Jade City
Jade War
Jade Legacy
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"With a powerful family of complex characters -- including my favorite, Kaul Shaelinsan -- Jade City beckons readers to secret family meetings and public battles between warring clans. With magical jade at stake, winning the battle for control of a city has never been more important, or more dangerous. Fonda Lee's first adult novel is a fast-hitting, tantalizing, sometimes unsettling, and always insightful book with a wealth of power at its core. A modern-day epic."
— Fran Wilde, award-winning author of Updraft, Cloudbound, and Horizon
“Narrator Andrew Kishino delivers powerful character interpretations…Kishino delivers this tale of sacrifice, family, and violence as a perfectly woven tapestry in which well-drawn charismatic characters fight for their lives, honor, and social power. The listener will be blown away.”
— AudioFile“A gritty novel that combines elements of science fiction and contemporary genres with magical martial arts fighting and gangland style feudalism.”
— RT Book Reviews“Revenge killings will draw action readers, and the powerful and flawed relationship dynamics between the Kaul siblings will keep teens enthralled. Perfect for epic fantasy fans.”
— School Library JournalStylish and action-packed, full of ambitious families and guilt-ridden loves, Jade City is an epic drama reminiscent of the best classic Hong Kong gangster films but set in a fantasy metropolis so gritty and well-imagined that you'll forget you're reading a book.
— Ken Liu, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy AwardsJade City has it all: a beautifully realized setting, a great cast of characters, and dramatic action scenes. What a fun, gripping read!
— Ann Leckie, author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Award winning novel Ancillary JusticeLee's astute worldbuilding raises the stakes for her vivid and tautly-described action scenes." —Scott Lynch, New York Times-bestselling author of The Lies of Locke Lamora
Lee draws on her Chinese heritage, passion for gangster stories, and strong writing to launch a Godfather-inspired fantasy series that mixes bold martial-arts action and vivid worldbuilding. The result is terrific.
— Library Journal (Pick of the Month, starred review)As this ambitious and complex story unfolds, Lee (Exo) skillfully juggles a huge cast. Her action scenes are flashy, brutal, and cinematic, while the family dynamics hold their own weight and significance. This is an engaging blend of crime drama and Asian martial arts film tropes.... an intense, satisfying experience.
— Publishers WeeklyCompelling characters and intricate worldbuilding.... I want to spend more time in Kekon.
— Hank GreenIntricate, fast-moving, and brazen, Jade City elevates the fantasy crime novel to something really special. A sharp and insightful new voice.
— Elizabeth Bear, winner of the Hugo and Locus AwardsJade City is an instantly absorbing tale of blood, honor, family and magic, spiced with unexpectedly tender character beats.
— NPRLee has a supreme talent for world-building.... Jade City is a fierce, energetic and stylish story that will keep you engrossed from start to end.
— CultureflyHow does a book make me giddy and heartbroken at the same time? Jade City delivers intrigue, family drama, and martial arts magic that feels absolutely real.
— Mary Robinette KowalFast cars, brilliant characters, and gangster kung-fu! Swift, intricate, and vicious as a talon knife, Fonda Lee's Jade City will pull you into a world of deft intrigue, hard choices, and bloody loyalty. Lee's written the postcolonial Godfather hiding under the surface of the Avatar: the Last Airbender universe -- and it's a fantastic read.
— Max Gladstone, Hugo Award-nominated author of the Craft SequenceAn atmospheric, gritty noir tale of family loyalties, martial arts and power struggles in a city that feels so real it becomes a character in its own right. Jade City is epic drama writ large.
— Aliette de Bodard, winner of the Nebula, Locus, and British Science Fiction AwardsIf you like extremely tense political maneuvering and intrigue, you will love Jade City. Fonda Lee is the new Mario Puzo; Jade City has officially dethroned The Godfather.
— Sarah Gailey, Hugo and Campbell Award finalistWell-formed characters and impeccable world building.
— BooklistAn absolutely blistering read. The characters are perfectly three dimensional. The plot is thrilling and the action sequences are damn near perfect.... I cannot recommend Jade City highly enough.
— The Eloquent PageDynamic fight scenes and vibrant world-building bring to life this sharp, memorable story of a family caught up in a ferocious gang war.
— Kate ElliottI'm going to have to read Jade City again, slowly, to fully take in all the Cool Stuff, because the story dragged me through by the scruff of the neck. What a ride! I love this book.
— Steven BrustA sweeping saga of ambition, loyalty, and family in a gritty, densely-imagined island city. Fonda Lee explores the tension between what is owed to family, country, and yourself in a high-stakes, high-octane game of power and control.
— p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Calibri; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of IronskinExquisite writing, explosive fighting -- Jade City is as rich and deadly as the Green Bones warriors who stalk its pages. I tore through this book like bullets through a fine restaurant in hotly disputed territory.
— Heidi HeiligAn ambitious statement.... Unforgettable.
— Book PageJade City is an addictive read with intense martial arts action and high-stakes character drama. I'll never look at jade the same way again.
— Beth Cato, author of Breath of Earth and The Clockwork DaggerPropulsive plot.... A world that will be hard to forget.
— B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy BlogThe magic system is outstanding.... Lee's writing is truly exceptional.... An absolute pleasure to read.
— The Fantasy HiveAn intriguing confluence of history, culture, and biology.... It'll be interesting to see what course Lee charts next.
— KirkusFonda Lee is the award-winning author of several young-adult science fiction novels, including Jade City, winner of the Aurora Award and the World Fantasy Award. Her novel Zeroboxer was shortlisted for the 2016 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction. She is a black-belt martial artist, a former corporate strategist, and action-movie aficionado.
Andrew Kishino is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.